It’s just gone 4.30pm and I’m just emerging from the dirt riddled steps of Tottenham Court Road underground station. I’m hoping my long loose fitting jeans are not responsible for the dirt-free trails left behind me. I’ve taken the dominion theatre exist and I’m not the only one; there is a buoyant group of 4 young ladies and 2 guys trotting up right ahead of me and from their accents hmmm…….. They must be Aussie, or maybe Kiwi, sorry I really can’t tell.
At the top of the steps I find myself on the pavements along Tottenham court road. I’m standing right before the dominion theatre and in fact almost right under the famous statue of the legendary Freddie Mercury. Indeed there is somewhat of a show happening later on tonight, 6pm to be precise. Tonight it’s not the famed WE WILL ROCK YOU showing on the stages of this theatre. Tonight God takes the stage.
The sun is shinning and the entrance is swarming with huddles of young people clad in everything from latest jean trends to hippy styles, from formals to ordinary casual. No doubt this crowd is diverse. As I eagerly make my way into the building not yet recognising anyone outside the entrance I’m greeted with a charming smile from one of the many tall attractive young men dressed in distinct Hillsong Host team vests and tags “ Hi, welcome to Church” he greets as he slightly tilts forward to bring himself down to my height. Accustomed to and almost expectant of such great hospitality I return his smile with a grin and stride in. I’m inexcusably late for a team huddle.
By 5.15pm the Dominion Theatre foyer is crowded with a variation, teenagers to middle-aged men and women, most falling in between that category, all eager, passionate and hopeful for the night. Several are visiting but a majority are the dedicated core of Hillsong London. Upstairs a dedicated team, in black, are supplying drinks to the growing numbers; coffee, tea, water, lots of cool water there is no reason for dehydration. The sounds from the worship group in preparation are reverberating through the closed doors of the theatre hall.
As time draws near the background fills with music setting the mood for the evening, its keeping me warmed up, I suddenly have more energy than I had when I first strode through the main entrance. The ubiquitous portraits of Freddie Mercury in the hallway have faded out of consciousness as the Hillsong undercover team take up their posts to make all those in for the 6pm service feel at home. There is excitement in the air. I can’t tell you the number of people I have met in the last hour, from all walks of life, of course a good percentage of them being Londoners, South Africans or Australians. But this time I also met and had the pleasure of being in the company of a lovely lady from Slovakia, Lana. In fact I had met her the previous Sunday when she had approached me and so kindly requested a Hillsong pen to keep as a souvenir. She will be returning to Slovakia this month to resume her postgraduate studies in English.
As the cue music plays marking the start of the service, I make my way to the seating downstairs, that’s where you’ll find all the jumping Jacks. The team have successfully managed to get seats for everyone attending the service. The main doors close. It’s time for the 6pm Hillsong church to spend an extraordinary and intimate time with God.
The next time the floodgates open, a rapturous mass is let loose and once again the foyer of the theatre is crowded and overflowing onto the streets of Tottenham Court road. No one is too keen to disperse from the overwhelming atmosphere of worship and friendship. The 6pm crew is on once again on call and being their usual hospitable selves. It’s now 8.15pm and for some of the team it will be a long night of pack down and loading the trucks, while for the rest of us it will be catching up and forming friendships, meeting point: Bar 101 across the street. “Have a great week!”